Wild Things drop to last place with loss
Wild Things’ outfielder Andrew Heck dives but can’t come up with a catch on a Lake Erie base hit in the first inning Wednesday at Consol Energy Park.
Wild Things’ Scott Kalamar reacts after striking out in the bottom of the third inning against the Lake Erie Crushers on Wednesday, July 22.
Wild Things pitcher Richie Mirowski allowed three first-inning runs Wednesday.
Wild Things’ Austin Wobrock rounds third and scores during the bottom of the second by a hit from Matt Peters.
All the losses and poor performances, all the slumps and disappointments became official Wednesday night. The Wild Things can sink no lower.
That thud you heard might have been the Wild Things falling into the basement of the Frontier League’s East Division.
Lake Erie used a trio of three-run innings to defeat Washington, 9-5, at Consol Energy Park and move into sixth place, a half-game ahead of the Wild Things.
Lake Erie (23-30) does not look like the same team that was swept by Washington in a three-game series only three weeks ago. The Crushers mustered only four runs in that series. This time, Lake Erie’s hitters have generated 28 runs and 29 hits in winning the first two games of the series.
Washington (24-32), meanwhile, does not look like the same team that entered the all-star break by winning four of six games on the road. Washington is 1-4 – all at home – since the break.
“Give Lake Erie credit,” Washington manager Bob Bozzuto said. “We swept them the last time. … You have to play well every night. We didn’t and that team leapfrogged us in the standings.”
After giving up eight runs in the first inning of a 17-3 loss Tuesday to the Crushers, Washington surrendered three more first-inning runs Wednesday. Wild Things starter Richie Mirowski (0-3) retired the game’s first two batters, then gave up two singles and a two-run triple. All three hits eluded center fielder Andrew Heck, who made diving attempts to catch each fly ball. A passed ball allowed Juan Sanchez, who hit the two-run triple, to score.
“Right now, they’re sitting on fastballs and they’re swinging the bats well and making great contact,” Bozzuto said of Lake Erie. “I don’t want to take anything away from those guys, but a lot of the pitches they hit tonight were up. They put good swings on them.”
Washington answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. Austin Wobrock, who moved into the leadoff spot for the first time, singled and scored on a double by Matt Peters. Sam Mende’s single moved Peters to third base and Scott Kalamar’s sacrifice fly made it a 3-2 game after one inning.
The Crushers pushed the lead to 6-3 with a three-run third inning. Right fielder Chandler Brock began the inning with a double and scored when former Pitt outfielder Boo Vazquez grounded out. Catcher Emmanuel Quiles capped the inning with a two-run single.
Washington chipped away at the deficit with single runs in the fourth and sixth innings. Matt Ford (3-for-4) singled in the fourth and scored when Heck followed with a triple to the gap in right centerfield. In the sixth, Kalamar drew a walk off Lake Erie starter Zach Morton (3-1), who exited the game afterward. Two batters later, Ford doubled down the right-field line off reliever Mike Devine and Kalamar raced around to make it 6-4.
“When it was 3-2, I felt like we were in good shape because I knew we would hit the ball,” Bozzuto said. “Even at 6-4, I felt like we were still in it. We have some guys with the ability to hit it out of the park, so I felt like we could tie it up.”
Though they scored in the fourth and sixth, those innings could have easily been more productive for Washington. After hitting the one-out triple in the fourth, Heck was stranded there after ground ball to the pitcher and a strikeout. In the sixth, Ford left at second base after the one-out double.
Lake Erie secured the win with a three-run ninth against reliever Matt Purnell, who walked the first two batters he faced. Trevor Stevens stole third base and scored on a throwing error. Chandler Brock, who drove in six runs in the series opener, had an RBI single and scored on Jose Barraza’s double, his fourth hit of the game.
“You have to play nine innings every night and we didn’t do that tonight,” Bozzuto said.
Washington first baseman Lee Orr capped the scoring with his eighth home run of the season, a solo shot, in the bottom of the ninth.
“We have a good group of guys and turned it on before the all-star break,” Ford said. “I think we can do it again but this has been a tough series.”
Washington made several roster moves prior to the game. Pitchers Zach LeBarron and Jason Ziegler were released. LeBarron had been on the disabled list all season but was with the team during the current homestand. Ziegler threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief Tuesday. Washington signed outfielder Cody Herald, a Butler native who played his college ball at Seton Hill. Herald batted .306 with nine home runs this spring for the Griffins. Herald made his Wild Things debut as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning and doubled to left centerfield. … Crushers infielder Kevin Zak suffered a broken hand Tuesday when hit by a pitch from Tim Giel. Zak was placed on the DL. … Lake Erie’s Austin Brock walked in the ninth and has reached base safely in 21 consecutive games.